Linda McDonough

Linda McDonough is a veteran hedge fund analyst who loves to break down company financial statements and identify market inefficiencies to uncover big opportunities.  She believes in a boots-on-the-ground approach that includes surveying customers, interviewing company executives, or doing whatever it takes to see what others don't.

She's now brought her experience as a hedge fund analyst to subscribers of her Profit Catalyst Alert service. Her system identifies small- and mid-cap stocks that are about to move due to catalytic events that few others can identify...until it's too late. These events often times result in massive gains for her followers.

Analyst Articles

A quick note about some of my recent put positions which have been closed at losses. Short selling can be full of bitter pills and we’ve swallowed a couple over the past week. While it is always my intention to find profitable trades, option trades magnify any market move against… Read More

Sell to close the January 20, 2017 put on BIG with a strike price of $42.5 at 24c or higher. Symbol (BIG170120P42.5)Big Lots reported 3c for the third quarter, 4c better than the one penny loss expected and raised annual guidance by that amount. Revenue, however, missed estimates with comp… Read More

Name: Vulcan Materials (NYSE: VMC)Target: $165Buy Up to: $140Theme: Infrastructure spending.Catalyst: Funding from the  Federal Highway Bill (the FAST act) is driving new orders for the company’s paving materials. Another $200 billion of transportation funding was approved on November ballots, turning on the spigot of new projects for the next few… Read More

Sell to close the January 20, 2017 puts on L Brands with a strike price of $68.5 at $1.45 or higher. Symbol (LB170120P68.5)Despite L Brands issuing negative news in its third quarter earnings release two weeks ago and on its November sales report today, the stock is trading higher. When I… Read More

Acuity Brands (NYSE: AYI) coverage was started with a buy rating by Deutsche Bank. The firm has a $300 target on the stock (currently it’s around $251) and loves its “unique competitive advantage” in the lighting market. I couldn’t agree more. Acuity has a full portfolio of lighting solutions that… Read More

Sell Drew Industries (NYSE: DW) for a 35% gain in six months. The stock traded above my $100 target last week so we are booking this gain. I recommended Drew on June 1 based on the company’s strong position supplying parts for RV’s. The company has delivered with earnings growth of… Read More

Sell Lydall (NYSE: LDL) for a gain of 38% in less than five months.I recommended Lydall on July 13 due to its focus on materials used for roadway engineering but such a large move in a short period of time requires booking the gain.  It has gone up faster than I… Read More

I’m adding U.S. Concrete (NSDQ: USCR) and Integrated Device Technology (NSDQ: IDTI) to the portfolio. Both are  special situation stocks with near term catalysts to drive them higher:Buy U.S. Concrete (NSDQ: USCR) Pave your way to profits with this producer of ready mix concrete. U.S. Concrete has built its way… Read More

I will be following the remaining stocks in the Growth Stock Strategist portfolio through March 15, 2017, and will give monthly updates or alerts when I believe immediate action should be taken. In the meantime, here is my take on all the GSS stocks.Apogee EnterprisesApogee (NSDQ: APOG) is up 15%… Read More

I will be following the remaining stocks in the Growth Stock Strategist portfolio through March 15, 2017, and will give monthly updates or alerts when I believe immediate action should be taken. In the meantime, here is my take on all the GSS stocks.Apogee EnterprisesApogee (NSDQ: APOG) is up 15%… Read More